DEE FORBESPresident, Discovery Networks International ✕ Headquartered in London, Forbes manages the cable powerhouse's western European business, which includes 18 brands in 17 markets. Discovery's audience in the area has grown by 47 percent this year due to new channel launches, including the free-to-air channel Discovery Max in Spain and Discovery Science in France.

IVY HO WAN-MINGProducer, Irresistible Films ✕ 2012 has been a bumper year for the veteran producer: Her latest release, the political thriller Cold War, is on track to become the highest-grossing Hong Kong movie released in mainland China, with box office recently reaching $37 million.

SOPHIE TURNER LAINGManaging director, entertainment and news, BSkyB ✕ Turner Laing has come a long way from working with Muppets at Henson International Television. She now oversees Sky's bouquet of entertainment and news channels, including Sky Movies, Hollywood's premium pay outlet in the U.K.

SHIM JAE-MYUNGCEO, Myung Films ✕ With more than 30 films to her credit, Shim has been dubbed "The Godmother of Korean Cinema." As South Korea's most influential female producer, Shim co-founded Myung Films with filmmaker husband Lee Eun. Her recent credits include Park Chan-wook's JSA: Join Security Area and Leafie, A Hen Into the Wild, the country's first animated feature to achieve box-office success.

NINA LATH GUPTAManaging director, National Film Development Corporation India ✕ From greenlighting a new slate (recent co-productions include Dibakar Banerjee's political thriller Shanghai) to running the vibrant annual Film Bazaar market in Goa, Gupta, whose second five-year term recently was renewed, plays a major role in the growth of India's vibrant film sector.

MIKA MORISHITADirector, TIFFCOM Contents Market ✕ As the head of TIFFCOM, the market that runs alongside the Tokyo International Film Festival, Morishita has been instrumental in doubling the number of foreign exhibitors at the event. The market's growth prompted a move to a larger venue this year.

ANDREA BARATA RIBEIRO Co-founder, O2 Filmes ✕ Barata Ribeiro launched O2 Filmes in 1991 with co-founders Fernando Meirelles and Paulo Morelli. Now one of Brazil's leading film and TV shingles, O2's credits include the Oscar-nominated City of God and Palme d'Or contender Blindness.

HEATHER SHAW Executive chair, Corus Entertainment ✕ Canadian power broker Shaw made waves in 1999 when she spun Corus off from Shaw Communications, the Canadian cable giant her family controls, and listed it on the Toronto Stock Exchange. These days, Corus' TV properties include OWN Canada, WNetwork and a half-stake in HBO Canada.

NOA TISHBY Actress and producer ✕ In her native Israel, Tishby became famous as a singer and star of musicals, then as an actress on TV and in films. She's also a top model in Israel. As a producer, she played a key role in turning the Israeli show In Treatment into a hit for HBO.

SATOKO UCHIYAMAProducer, TV Asahi ✕ A 15-year veteran of the TV industry, Uchiyama made her name by producing hit TV dramas with tough female leads. The Negotiator has been one of her biggest successes, returning for a second season and leading to a spinoff movie.

LOUISE VESTHProducer, Zentropa ✕ After convincing Shia LaBeouf and Uma Thurman to work for scale on Lars von Trier's erotic epic Nymphomaniac, Vesth is producing a new Scandinavian crime franchise that she is developing with screenwriter Nikolaj Arcel (Sweden's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo).